Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said, “He who has a task to perform must know how to take sides, or he is quite unworthy of it.” Though such quotes sound nice they mean nothing. Glittering generalities and other forms of propaganda have been around for centuries. If one believes that the general definition of democracy is defined as a government elected or run by the people, for the people, and in equal measure then it can certainly be said that Cleisthenes succeeded in his tasks. However, the man’s history in Greece and his short-lived legacy raise questions about the bigger picture of his effect on the people of Athens and democracy as a whole. This essay will argue that Cleisthenes, called the father of democracy, was the most desirable leader of his time in ancient Greece because he actively worked to create a safe and stable government before he was elected to power, he sought to establish a government that appealed to both the upper and lower classes, and he supported his people having a say in both major and minor issues occurring every day in their city.
Cleisthenes’ rise to power was anything but graceful. He was an Alcmaenoid by birth and this meant going into politics would be a normal path, but revolutionizing the entire political structure after a tumultuous start could not have been expected. After overthrowing the Hippa’s, Cleisthenes was surpassed in the race to lead Athens by Isagoras who was supported by the king, who also favored previous political methods. At this point in time the country was practicing ostracism. This is the practice in which:
“Every year the Assembly of Athenian citizens voted, by show of hands, on whether or not to hold an ostracism. If the Demos voted to hold one, the ostracism took plac...
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...edicted it would, and without a leader like him willing to direct them away from this mindset rather than pander to it to get votes, the political constitution of the city was doomed to dissolve. Speaking of the revolution in Corcyra, which occurred after the Athenian decision to spare Mytilene but before its destruction of Melos, Thucydides wrote, “In peace and prosperity states and individuals have better sentiments, because they do not find themselves suddenly confronted with imperious necessities; but war takes away the easy supply of daily wants and so proves a rough master that brings most men’s characters to a level with their fortunes” (III.82.2). This was precisely the change Athens underwent, and the cause of its eventual demise.
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Athenian democracy includes participation of all adult, free, male, citizen, made possible for all. If at the beginning and during the thriving period of the Athens democracy the occupations of a state position was considered to be an worthy duty for the citizens, the taking in of ...
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As perspectives and opinions in the realm of political science are fluid and bound to change, he receives a variety of replies, for the representatives body he sent happen to comprise a Realist, a Liberal and a Constructivist. The variances the philosophies and universal laws his representatives throw back at him intrigue General Cleomedes. He recognizes that within the power play of the world, and the role of Athens as a superpower within the world’s political arena, he must be thoroughly versed in every possible political perspective. Thus, he invites his representatives to share their own view of what transpired between the dialogue between the Melians and the Athenians.
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As can be expected from pioneer governmental institutions, Athenian democracy was not perfect. In fact it was far from it. It resulted in the establishment of poor policies by aggressive populists who sought "...private ambition and private profit...which were bad both for the Athenians themselves and their allies." (Thucydides). These self interested populist leaders with personal gain in mind established extensive internal political instability "...by quarrelling among themselves [and] began to bring confusion into the policy of the state." (Thucydides). Repeated opportunities to accept terms of peace after the battles of Pylos (425), Arginusae (406) and Aegospotami (405) were ignored by the inefficient Athenian demos eventually resulting in the devastation of the once dominant city-state. Internal political strife can also be attribu...